Sports Briefly

Published: Sunday, February 03, 2008

Redskins Monk, Green elected to Hall of Fame

PHOENIX - It was a Hall of Fame day for the Washington Redskins, with Art Monk and Darrell Green elected to the shrine Saturday. Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue failed to get in for the second straight year.

"There's going to be a party at Redskin Park soon," Green said while talking by teleconference with Monk.

In his eighth year of eligibility, Monk finally was chosen. He concluded his career after the 1995 season with Philadelphia, but spent 13 years with the Redskins as one of the NFL's premier receivers.

Green, one of the NFL's speediest and most skilled cornerbacks for two decades, spent his entire career (1983-2002) with the Redskins.

It's official: Santana joins New York Mets

NEW YORK - Johan Santana is a member of the New York Mets.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner passed his physical Saturday, finalizing the blockbuster trade that sent him from Minnesota to New York for four prospects: outfielder Carlos Gomez and right-handers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra.

The Mets and Twins announced the deal one day after Santana agreed to a $137.5 million, six-year contract with New York - record riches for a pitcher.

Vonn down but not out of World Cup downhill

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland - Lindsey Vonn is looking on the bright side after a poor run in foggy conditions derailed her bid to tie the U.S. record for World Cup downhill victories.

"We still have four more downhills left," Vonn said Saturday after finishing tied for fifth behind Slovenia's Tina Maze, who took advantage of sunnier conditions to ski the Corviglia course in 1 minute, 44.38 seconds.

"The light was really bad and it was really bumpy," said Vonn, who was attempting to match Picabo Street and Daron Rahlves with nine downhills wins. "I tried to fight the whole way, but you couldn't see anything."

Vonn retained her lead in the downhill standings after finishing 0.42 seconds behind Maze, who got her first World Cup podium finish this season after starting 47th when sunny spells had replaced the fog.

Briefly ...

 Khalil Greene's big 2007 season with the San Diego Padres is about to pay off with a nice contract that will allow the shortstop to avoid arbitration. The two sides spoke Saturday and were closing in on a two-year deal worth roughly $11 million, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized.